Sekeo stared at the man, "You want nothing in return?" He echoed softly and shook his head, "You are a ssstrange human, I think. You do not think of ssself. Not a bad thing though." The kobold mused. It was an interesting concept, selflessness. Most selfless people were foolish , but also brave. It wasn't a bad quality to have, he thought. It didn't make a lot of sense to him, but brave people often did great things that often went beyond comprehension. Again, he shook his head and set these contemplations aside in favor of focusing on the task at hand.
"Rough crowd, yesss. Three men. They're armed with swords. Dark clothing. Leather armor, I think. Dirty appearance, scars ,strong bodies. Big men. They're fighters. Probably mercenaries. " Sekeolath'zhin observed, squinting at the men from his hiding place in the bushes. " Might not be looking for me, but it feelsss like too much of a coincidence for them not to be. Their posssture sssuggessstsss that they're looking for sssomeone. Probably me."
One of the trio turned around, peering down the road where Kyt and the kobold had been standing before only to find it empty.
"I've avoided Bassshir thisss long," the kobold hissed softly, weighing his options, " direct confrontation issss bad. I do not doubt your magic, but if Bassshir thinksss I am capable of taking out four men, then he may sssend even more. Powerful you are, but limitsss you have. " He tapped his narrow chin with a claw, " We could wait here for sssome time and sssee what they do. Or, " he glanced back over his shoulder, "we could try a detour. I know another path. It isss sssafe enough. It crosses the opposssite ssside of the river and windsss around. Isss a longer way ,and indirect but it isssn't likely that they know of it. Few humanssss take path."
And with good reason too. The path crossed , rather briefly, orcish territory.
"If we wait a little longer, "he looked up, "the sssun is setting. Soon their eyesss will fail them and we could essscape. Even if we make noise, humans are so clumsy and helpless at night. My eyessss work bessst in darknesss. I can guide."
But these men would probably find them again. He had a feeling that they would though he was a bit surprised they'd even found him so soon to begin with. They must have had a tracker among them.
He knew that they'd never stop chasing him and he'd probably have to face them eventually though he was sure that he could keep running. Running away was always what he'd done and he'd gotten away this long. Why would such a plan fail him now?
"If we move quickly enough, we could be in Arca about an hour preceding nightfall. Maybe a couple hoursss at mossst. Or, if you're feeling brave, we could risssk trying to passs them, " he shrugged his small, narrow shoulders, "but I do not think that would work very well. Not for me."